Kolkata: Mohun Bagan Super Giant have expressed their unwillingness to travel to Iran, citing players’ safety following the prevailing volatile situation in the region and plunging into uncertainty the green-and-maroon brigade’s next AFC Champions League Two match away at Tractor FC.
Mohun Bagan were supposed to fly to Iran from Bengaluru on Sunday morning, barely a few hours after losing 0-3 to Sunil Chhetri and Co.
in an Indian Super League match. The match against Tractor FC is scheduled to take place in the Iranian city of Tabriz on Wednesday. Instead, Jose Molina’s team has decided to return to Kolkata in a staggered way.
The MBSG team management is understood to have exchanged a number of emails with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), asking for clarity from the game’s continental governing body on the issue, before making their decision “official.” While they are willing to play the game at an “alternative venue”, they are also in the process of preparing documents in support of their decision to not travel to Iran, it has been learnt.
On Monday, the MBSG management is likely to “officially” inform the AFC of their decision.
Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has declared five days of public mourning following the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli air strike in Lebanon.
Although there’s no official word from the Mohun Bagan team management in this respect, a source with knowledge of the development confirmed that the team would not play in Iran in the existing circumstances and is waiting for “guidance” from the AFC for the next course of action.
“Safety of players and the staff members travelling to Iran are paramount for the team management. Moreover, we also wonder whether it will be safe for the players to travel and play in a country which is in a state of mourning,” the source said.
“We are ready to play at an alternative venue if possible. We have requested the AFC to look into the matter and are waiting for their guidance and clarity on the issue. We are also keeping in touch with the external affairs ministry in this regard,” he added.
The team management has also highlighted a travel advisory issued by the external affairs ministry in April stating that “In view of the prevailing situation in the region, all Indians are advised not to travel to Iran or Israel till further notice.”
By not playing the match in Iran, Mohun Bagan, however, run the risk of facing sanctions from the AFC. The Kuala Lumpur-based office is yet to make any comment on the issue.
Mohun Bagan are third in Group A following their goalless draw with Tajikistan’s FC Ravshan in the ACL Two opener at the Salt lake Stadium two weeks ago. Tractor FC are leading the standings with a 3-0 win over Qatar’s Al-Wakrah SC.
If the match against the Iranian club does not take place, it will come as a blessing in disguise for Bagan. With just one win in three matches in the ISL, Molona will have more time before taking on debutants Mohammedan Sporting on Saturday.